Bay of Plenty

Clipper Round the World Yacht Race crews are back in racing mode after an action-packed stopover at Tauranga, in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty.

Tauranga's little blue penguins are heading back to their off-shore island homes.

Joy and solemn ceremony brought an epic 136-year journey to an end this week when a treasured Māori wharenui or carved meeting house was reopened in its rightful New Zealand home.

He’s just ticked off his 101st birthday celebration, and New Zealand health pioneer, Claude Stratford, is still a walking advertisement for the natural bee products he’s made world famous.

True fans believe that rugby is art, so it's no surprise to find that the game has also inspired some significant new art installations for Rugby World Cup 2011.

A New Zealand homecoming that’s been 130 years in the making will see a famous wharenui or carved meeting house returned to its rightful place in one of the most significant Māori cultural happenings of modern times.

Auckland is on 'Cloud' nine, Wellington’s launching a waka, Nelson’s taking a long Italian lunch, Bluff’s reserving the juiciest oysters, Westland’s celebrating whitebait, and wineries all over New Zealand are dusting off their vintage best.

Rugby World Cup will leave an ongoing heritage in New Zealand long after this year’s event is over – thanks to a native tree planting project involving some of the country’s legendary rugby players.

New Zealand is famed for rare and varied marine life and coastal-loving Kiwis are being made even more aware of their special surroundings with warm summer seas bringing species closer to shore.

Tim Taylor, the 23-year-old kayaker who is attempting to make history by completing the first continuous solo circumnavigation of New Zealand, reckons he will get to see his country like no-one else ever has before.